UCSF (IS) vs UCLA (IS)

[smiski]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

UCSF (IS)
Pros:

• In a good part of SF and I want to experience city life
• Students seem to generally report a good work life balance
• Better clinical experience
• P/F
• I wouldn't bring my car but public transport is convenient
• Students do not seem to struggle getting patients
• Great research fellowships and general research opportunities

Cons:

• Cold
• Further from home
• The city is even more expensive to live in than what I currently pay to live by UCLA

UCLA (IS)
Pros:

• 1 hour drive from home so emotionally it feels like the safer choice, having a support system nearby
• I went to UCLA for undergrad so the campus and dental school facilities and surrounding areas are familiar to me
• I would bring my car and I like having my car
• I want to practice in Socal eventually, so being UCLA alumni may help?
• Didactically challenging which could be good for me in residency?
• A lot of clubs/programs I volunteered at as a pre-dental student at UCLA, I would like to participate in them on the other side to give back
• Nicer weather

Cons:

• Students seem significantly more stressed
• P/F with honors and some students report feeling stressed trying to get honors
• This directly contradicts my "pro" but I do feel I want to get out of the LA area and try something new. It's just that I think with how stressful dental school is, I would inevitably appreciate being close to home
• Students seem to struggle finding patients

Summary: Between the two schools with cost of living, tuition, scholarships, etc considered, UCSF is somewhat cheaper but I haven't received the financial aid package for either school. Facilities at both are on the older side. Class sizes are around the same. I am quite certain I want to pursue orthodontics, and certain I want to specialize in something. I think 7/11 ortho candidates matched from UCSF this year, but people are saying it's a one-off? UCLA this year was around 50%. Match rates and setting me up for success for residency are important to me.

My heart says UCSF and I put down a deposit, but I cannot seem to reject UCLA's offer...I'm getting cold feet and I have one day to decide! I don't think I could go wrong with either school and I'm grateful to be a position where I have to decide, and obviously it comes down to which factors matter more to me, but if anyone has anything to chime in that I should consider, I'd appreciate it!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Congratulations on this decision to make.

Of course, cost is important, so take a hard look at the non-tuition costs of attendance. How is each school managing its dental clinic, patients, and the instruments/materials you need? You won't go wrong either way if you stay in California. I'm sure there are many UCSF alumni around SoCal, as there are UCLA alumni around SF. You have been around UCLA for a while as an undergrad, so you probably should know how students there find students compared to UCSF. You shouldn't have difficulty at either school should you want to specialize.